Around 110 people were detained as nationwide “Bloquons tout” (Let’s stop everything) protests against planned budget cuts swept France. Police deployed 80,000 security personnel, armored vehicles, and water cannons amid fears of violence.
In Paris, clashes broke out near Bastille Square, where protesters demanded President Emmanuel Macron’s resignation and denounced Israel’s war in Gaza. Strikes disrupted trains, metro services, schools, pharmacies, and even energy facilities, bringing much of daily life to a halt.
The unrest follows the dismissal of former Prime Minister François Bayrou after his €44 billion austerity plan failed to win confidence in parliament. New Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has signaled possible compromises but has yet to announce his budget policy.